This chapter is specifically dedicated to adamantred, the lovely person who created the cover art for this fic! There's a lot going on in this chapter, so I hope it isn't too difficult to follow ;u;
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Chapter 9. The Banquet
The days started to drag before long, and every morning, Ruby woke and followed Weiss to breakfast only to be told by her father that the authorities had discovered nothing new about Blake's attackers.
Thus, day after day, Ruby was confined to the castle to ensure her safety.
She did her best to keep herself busy, but there was only so much training she could do with Weiss in the small area in the basement. They were limited on space and resources, and it was not nearly as pleasant as training out in the open air was.
Blake recovered before long, though Yang still insisted she take it easy, even going so far as to make it an order.
On occasion, Yang would take Blake to the basement to watch her sister and the white knight train. Blake longed to join in, for she knew she was healed now and was more than capable of a mock battle.
But the reasons she held back were not for her own sake, but for Yang's.
The first time after Blake's recovery that they had encountered Ruby and Weiss training, the Faunus girl had nudged Yang forward.
"Go on," she had said. "You should train with them."
But Yang had given her a sunken look - scared.
"I can't," she had mumbled. "What if I end up hurting one of them?"
She was like a lioness among cubs, frightened that she was too strong – too recklessly zealous – for her own good, terrified that she would make a grave mistake she could never take back. There were too many abstruse thoughts congesting her head, and she feared they might cloud her judgement to the point it could become problematic, or even dangerous.
And Blake feared for her.
Ever since the revelation that Yang hosted the Dragon's Curse had come to light, the blonde girl had been considerably depressed. She was jumpy, like a deer, cautious at every sound, always looking over her shoulder, her usual gaul and confidence entirely absent now.
Blake knew it was because she was scared not for herself, but for those she cared for. Yang blamed herself for Blake's assault and resulting injuries, and every day, she met her aide's eyes fewer and fewer times.
After several days, she refused to train herself altogether, too terrified that her curse might go berserk, that she would not be able to control her semblance and would potentially cause distress and chaos, or worse – injury.
It got to the point where all the girl did was roam the halls of the castle aimlessly with Blake at her side, only plastering a smile every once in a while when she crossed paths with her sister or father.
But it was impossible to keep it up constantly, and Blake felt Yang's anxieties as if they were her own, and she was convinced they were.
The king had increased the number of guards around the castle, saying it was for Yang's safety. But to her, it only felt like she was being caged, not protected.
After a week, she refused to eat her meals with her family, insisting she take them back to her room.
She was beginning to break, and Blake feared it was now only a matter of time before she shattered.
Presently, it was the seventh night since the castle had been put on lockdown, and the third night Yang had taken her dinner back to her room with her.
Blake followed solemnly behind her, having forced down a bit of food beforehand in order to focus on Yang alone now. She kept her sharp vision trained on the girl's form, and it was clear how much Yang's stride had faltered within the past few days, how frazzled her hair had become, how stiff her posture was now.
The half-princess only ever seemed to want to retreat to her room and sleep, convinced she would not lose herself to the fire boiling inside of her there, or if she did, that she would harm as few people as possible; she trusted Blake to save herself.
But despite the silent and verbal displays of support Blake offered her, she knew the blonde was nearing her limit more and more every minute.
She intended to put a stop to it tonight.
Blake had been lost in her thoughts, carefully planning her words as she walked, and the sound of a door opening as they reached the room brought her back to the present. She scurried after Yang and the door closed behind her.
The room was shrouded in darkness, the only light coming from the faint rays of the setting sun that slipped around the edges of the curtains. As a Faunus, it was no problem for Blake to see, but she imagined Yang would have difficulties.
The dark-haired girl flicked on a small lamp just in time to see the other girl placing her untouched plate of food down onto her desk. Blake traced the outline of her charge's dress and back with her eyes before approaching slowly, voice soft as not to startle her.
"Yang-"
"Blake-"
The blonde turned around and cut her off almost instantly. Blake pursed her lips and met her weary lavender eyes, and dismay curled in the pit of her stomach even before Yang continued.
"I..." Yang swallowed hard and looked down. Blake could tell whatever she was about to say was something Yang had been dwelling on for many, many hours.
But she never expected it to be what Yang ended up saying to her:
"I... I'm... relieving you.. of your position as my-"
"Yang!" There was a vehemence in her voice as Blake snapped at her. She rushed forward and grabbed the girl's wrists, glaring up into her eyes. "Don't you dare. Don't even joke about something like that-"
"This isn't a joke, Blake." Her voice was eerily calm, and it made Blake feel angry and hopeless all at once. Yang met her gaze levelly. "I'm serious, Blake. If I'm cursed with this... if I could lose control at any time and end up going crazy... I don't want you to be there when I do."
The blood was roaring in Blake's ears, and she flattened them against her skull; she was unable to tell if it was Yang who was shaking or herself.
She felt a growl work its way up the back of her throat, lowering her voice as she tried to maintain some form of composure.
"So what will you do?" she challenged. "Are you going to exile yourself? Run away? Lock yourself in some dungeon or seclude yourself in some forest where there's no one around?"
With every accusation, she saw Yang flinch, and Blake knew she was hitting every nail on the head. Relentlessly, she went on.
"Or... Or will you kill yourself here and now? Turn yourself over to them or take your own life so the curse can be transferred to someone else? You can't think the King would allow it. What do you think Ruby would do when she found out? Do you think she'd be okay-"
"Blake-"
"Do you think she'd be able to live with herself?"
"It doesn't matter if I die! I'm not the real princess!"
"And what about me?" Blake shouted over her. "How do you think I'd feel? Do you honestly think I'd allow you to kill yourself? Stop being so selfish for once in your life and think about the people who care about you!"
"Shut up!"
"No, Yang! I won't shut up if this is what you're going to do! You can't relieve me of my position, because guess what? I'm not going anywhere even if you try to force me to. I'm not leaving you alone so you can kill yourself!"
"Then what the hell am I supposed to do?!" Yang screamed, her voice desperate and high, laden with exasperation. Tears were trailing down either side of her face as she yanked her wrists away from Blake's grip.
Yang took a step back, her eyes already glazing over with red. Her breath came heavily, and her voice trembled when she realized what was happening. She quickly tried to suppress it, to the point it was painful to do so, and her voice withered.
"What... what am I supposed to do, Blake? What can I do...? I'm a monster..."
The word echoed around the room, doubling back to dig its way into Blake's skull, pounding. It slithered down her spine and snared thorns around her heart.
It had been a while since that word had haunted her mind.
Ever since she had met Yang, her mind had never once plagued her with the thought, not like it had in her younger years. Blake knew firsthand the repercussions that word could have on a person, and she was not about to let Yang suffer them.
She stepped forward, closing the distance between them to gently curl her fingers around the girl's wrists, softer than before, with care.
"Yang..." she whispered. "No. Don't you dare say that. Don't you dare think that. You're not a monster."
The red in her eyes was already fading, but even if Yang had been consumed by flames, it would not have prevented Blake from wrapping her arms around her and pressing close.
Yang felt the hollowness in her stomach yawn wider, her form going numb until she felt the warm body against hers. Blake's scent wreathed around her, and Yang's arms wreathed around Blake, carefully, not applying too much pressure to the girl who was still recovering - recovering from a vicious incident that occurred because of Yang's existence.
"Then..." Yang gasped, burying her face in the girl's hair. "Then what am I...?"
Blake did not even have to think about her answer, tightening her embrace on the girl.
"You're Yang," she murmured. "You're my..."
She gasped softly cutting herself off before she could say something she might regret. But Yang had heard everything, and she whimpered into the side of her neck.
"Blake... please..."
She needed this.
The plea in her voice cracked Blake's final ounce of resolve.
"You're mine, Yang. I love you. I need you. You can't... you can't leave me, and you can't make me leave. I won't. If you kill yourself, then you kill us both. If you turn yourself over or run away, then I'm going with you, damn it. You're not going anywhere alone, do you hear me?"
There was silence for a moment, and Blake allowed the blonde girl to nuzzle into her until her sobs subsided.
"Yeah..." Yang whispered. "I get it, Blake. Sorry... for saying all of that. And Ruby-" She bit her lip, guilt clawing at her throat. "I said... it again. When I promised I'd never blame her for being born the real princess. I said it again... I'm sorry, lil' sis..."
"It's alright," Blake soothed her. "She'd never blame you, Yang. You know that. She loves you. And you're only doing all of this to yourself because you love her, too. Because you love all of us... But just think for a minute. What if it were me who was cursed, or Ruby? Would you let one of us kill ourselves?"
"No!" Yang barked. "Of course not!"
"Then you know how we feel."
Yang was silent again, but then the tears resurfaced with a vengeance, her body shuddering uncontrollably. Blake held her closer, supporting her weight, keeping her on her feet.
"Sorry..." the half-princess whimpered. "I'm sorry, Blake. I didn't mean it. I didn't-"
"Shh..." She ran her hands through golden locks. "I know, Yang. I know. Don't worry about it. Just... promise me you... won't think about hurting yourself ever again. You... You can't do that, okay? You just can't."
She felt the girl nod against her shoulder.
"Yeah. I promise. I'm... sorry, Blake. I'm just..." She lifted her head and bore her gaze into Blake's. "I'm just so tired. I'm scared."
To hear Yang admit her fears was both relieving and unsettling for Blake, but it compelled her to move the girl over to the bed and sit down beside her.
"I know. I'm scared, too. We all are." She stroked Yang's cheek, brushing her thumb over the salty tears to clear them. "But we can get through it together. We've just got to be cautious and take our time-"
"But we don't have time, Blake!" Yang hissed. "You're the one who heard what they said! That they'd kill me before winter-"
"Yang." Blake stopped her with a firm tone. "That's not going to happen."
"But they almost killed you-"
"But they didn't. I'm still here, aren't I?"
Another moment of silence, and Yang's eyes went to her lap as she leaned her face into Blake's palm.
"But..." she sighed. "But even if it's not this winter... they're going to keep coming after me. All my life, I'll just be running until they finally catch me."
"We'll stop them first, Yang. We'll find a way." Blake tried to offer a smile, though she was not sure how convincing it was. "But... if you really... if it'd be better to run then... I'll come with you. But we just need to plan it out first, okay? We need to get the timing right. We can take the horses in the night and we'll go where no one could ever hope to find us..." She paused and pressed a soft kiss to Yang's lips. "I don't care if we're banished or exiled, as long as we're together..."
Yang let her lips linger on Blake's, leaning forward to hold it a second longer.
"Do... Do you really mean it?" she whispered. "Blake Belladonna is... agreeing to run away with me?"
"I do," the Faunus girl murmured. "If it'll keep you from feeling trapped here, if it'll keep you from being terrified at the sound of every footstep, if it'll keep you from calling yourself a monster... I'll do whatever it takes. I'm yours, Yang. You can't get rid of me. Ever. I love you."
Yang bit her bottom lip, a fresh sting rising up behind her eyes.
"Blake, no... don't say that. You can't-"
"I can't love you?" she guessed. "Please, Yang. I've loved you for longer than I can remember, and there's no way in hell you're going to deny you feel the same." She leaned forward and kissed her again, firmly and with a gentle passion. "I love you, Yang. I'll always love you. But you've got to let me... Do you trust me?"
Yang did not give her a direct answer. She searched Blake's melancholy eyes, seeking out something she could not quite understand, finding something profound she could not explain.
Yang wrapped her arms around the girl's neck and laid down on her back. Blake fell lightly on top of her and pressed against her, pushing their lips together again until she could feel their pulses pounding as one.
They had proven time and again that they loved one another, through words and actions and silent touches.
But now, it was Blake's turn to remind her - remind Yang that she loved her, curse or no curse. Blake needed to show her that the knowledge of Yang's misfortune did not change her feelings toward her in the slightest.
She held long kisses to her lips, keeping tight grips on her wrists, twining their fingers together. The kisses went down Yang's neck and over her heart, and Blake could feel the fingers curling in her hair, at the bases of her ears.
There was a soft whisper of her name, and it gave Blake the final confirmation she needed.
She was not afraid of Yang.
She loved her.
And she would prove it as many times as Yang needed her to.
. . .
The days were growing colder, the nights longer, and Ruby more and more restless.
She was worried about her sister, worried about the possibility of the banquet being cancelled. Every day, her father would give her ambiguous answers when she asked about her party, and she felt she could hardly blame him.
But even if she could not have her banquet, she already had everything she could ever want or need. She had her sister, she had Blake, and she had Weiss' undying and candid affections.
And yet, she could not even come to feel happy about her newfound love with Weiss, because Yang was getting worse by the day. The usually boisterous, energetic girl had fallen all but silent and despondent, her confidence vanished, and so had her contact with Ruby.
The brunette would fret every evening, and Weiss opted to stay with her at night until she fell asleep before departing.
The effect the knowledge of the curse was having on them all was getting to the point of being extreme, and she needed to put a stop to it.
Evidently, the imploring looks she had silently sent Blake's way must have worked after about a week, because the next morning as Weiss led a dejected Ruby down the halls to breakfast, there was a fast patter of footsteps from behind them. Weiss turned to see not the guards she had expected, but Yang herself.
It was a surprisingly quiet endeavor, and the second she reached them, she threw her arms around Ruby and held her tightly.
"Y-Yang?!" Ruby's voice was shocked and relieved all at once, and Weiss could hear the waver in it just before she broke down into sobs.
"I'm sorry..." her sister kept mumbling. "Sorry, Ruby. I'm sorry..."
Weiss knew not of what she was apologizing for, but another silent glance to Blake told her it was too complicated to inquire. Blake sent her the faintest of smiles; it was incredible how much the gesture relieved Weiss and made her understand that whatever had come over Yang previously was no longer an issue.
As the sisters kept their embrace, Weiss stepped over to the Faunus girl and spoke softly.
"Thank you, Blake. Whatever you did... whatever you said to her... thank you."
"Don't thank me," she murmured. "I only told her the truth."
"Still..."
Weiss took one of Blake's hands and lifted it to her lips, pressing a small kiss to the back. Startled, Blake's ears flattened as she took a step back.
"W-Weiss, what are you-"
"It's a simple display of gratitude. Even if you're unfamiliar with it, surely it's nothing you can't comprehend?"
"...I don't deserve it."
"Of course you do." Weiss pressed her free hand on top of Blake's. "In helping Yang, you've helped Ruby, and therefore you've helped me. Thank you, Blake."
Clearly, the Faunus girl was not used to being treated so formally, respected so highly. But she knew it was better to just accept Weiss' declaration of appreciation rather than fight the stubborn knight on the matter.
So she dipped her head respectfully and welcomed Weiss' hands on hers.
At last, the sisters parted from their quiet embrace, and yet it felt like there had been so much said between them. Yang reached out to wipe her sister's tears.
"It's gonna be okay, Ruby. They're not gonna get me, so you don't have to worry."
The younger sister offered a smile, though she bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
"Okay. Thanks, Yang. Thanks for... for not dealing with this alone. I love you – we all do. We're gonna help you with this no matter how long it takes or how hard we have to work. We're not giving up until you're safe."
"Thanks, lil' sis." Yang ruffled her hair and kissed her forehead. "You're gonna make a great queen one day."
She stepped back, and Blake and Weiss took their cues to return to each of the sister's sides. The atmosphere was lighter now, as though a shroud had been lifted, blown away by a clear breeze.
They continued down the hallway together, bound to get some much-needed breakfast. But not before Yang leaned in toward her sister with a devilish smirk.
"Sooo, you and Weiss finally got there, huh?"
Ruby nearly tripped and fell over her own two feet.
"W-What?! Yang how could you te-"
"A big sis knows these kinda things, Ruby. So congrats~"
Ruby shared a quick glance with Weiss, and her knight's face went instantly red, her jaw hanging open uselessly as she tried to think of something to say.
"Don't worry," Yang soothed her. "I'm not gonna say anything. Though, to be honest, I'm pretty sure the entire kingdom's known for a good five or six years now."
"Yang, don't tease them," Blake said, hiding a chuckle behind her hand.
"I won't say anything~" the blonde repeated. "But when do you plan on spillin' the beans officially?"
Ruby chewed the inside of her cheek, and Weiss promptly looked away.
"If... If the banquet for my birthday is still happening this month, then we'll probably make it publicly-known then..."
"Oh, perfect! I can't wait!"
Yang cooed and nudged her blushing sister all the way to the table where Ruby finally whined and swatted her away. Weiss was still too mortified to meet Blake's eyes, but the Faunus girl knew they were all feeling the same.
It felt like things were back to the way they had been a few weeks ago, when they had few troubles and only joy.
However, they all knew it would not last for long, and that they would need to savor this moment, make it last as long as possible.
When Blake next did meet Weiss' gaze, it was solemn, as though the knight could not believe the almost carefree air about the two sisters now. Unlike before when the feeling was welcomed to stay, it now merely felt like the calm before the storm, and keeping what undoubtedly lie ahead out of their minds was only delaying the inevitable.
The dirt of the military training grounds was soggy and damp, caked in mud and dying, frosted grass that was starting to crunch like hay.
Emerald's breath rose up around her in annoyed puffs of white as she glared up at Mercury beside her.
"We'd better be hearing some good news today," she growled. "It's been a week since we jumped that Faunus whore, and ever since, the ditzy princesses have been locked up by Daddy for safekeeping. There's only one way we can get to them now."
"Chill out," Mercury said, rolling his eyes. "Cinder wasn't that mad, you know."
"Shut it!" she hissed.
She could still recall the woman's expression when Emerald and her small team of battered attackers had trudged back to her to report that the Faunus girl had lived through their ambush. Cinder had said she was hardly surprised, but that it did not matter so long as their message had been made clear.
Still, there had been disappointment in her amber eyes, and Emerald felt she had lost a fraction of Cinder's faith in her for not meeting her expectations.
Even now, just thinking about it made her dig her teeth into her lip until she swallowed blood, a bit of self-repentance. Mercury noticed and narrowed his eyes.
"Hey, quit it. If one of the commanding officers sees us walking in with bloody mouths, we'll be put under suspicion and asked to leave before we can hear the announcement."
Begrudgingly, Emerald licked her lip and removed her teeth.
The King had decided whether this month's banquet would be held or not, and depending on his decision, the White Fang and its partners would be taking different plans of action.
But of course there was one option that was more preferable to Cinder than the other...
Which was exactly why Emerald was so ecstatic when she and Mercury returned to her under cover of night that evening.
"It's on!" she reported. "The banquet is happening in five day's time!"
Cinder brought a hand to her chin, her lips curled into a pleasant smile as she dragged her nails lightly down the side of her own neck.
"Wonderful."
"But," Mercury cut in. "There's a catch. Only people of the castle, members of the royal guard, and the military are able to attend. It won't be open to the public citizens this time."
Cinder cast him a glance of only mild interest.
"But that won't be a problem. Not for my precious little rats who've got the military wrapped around their fingers, now will it?"
Her gaze, aglow with subtle fire, met each of theirs.
Emerald replied instantly.
"No, ma'am! We'll be able to get in. They only want the military there to guard the perimeter of the castle should any trouble arise."
"Well isn't that ironic?" Cinder purred. "Because I plan to stir up quite a bit of trouble."
Mercury spoke up again. "And of course we'll be turning people away. Buuut we'll also be able to sneak someone in if we have to."
"Very good." Cinder beckoned them both forward, deeming they had earned a small reward. She ran her hands over their heads, pushing them down onto their knees and stroking their hair as if they were dogs. "I'll report to those in charge of the White Fang tonight, and we'll dispatch a group to venture into the forest and begin rounding up the Grimm."
She started to walk off into the dark underground chambers of the building, before she turned back to them. "After all," she hummed. "What fun would this party be without a little... excitement? And what better way to incite that than pure, unadulterated terror?"
Her red dress lined with sparks of gold trailed behind her, and Emerald and Mercury followed as she headed off into the shadows.
When Ruby's father told her the banquet was going to be held after all, she nearly jumped for joy.
She was a bit disappointed that the citizens would not be invited in this time around, but he had reassured her that stands offering free food would be set up along the market streets to give the people a bit of a break.
"We can send a few of our men out," he told her. "We just can't have people coming in."
And Ruby knew she would be fine with that. The military would be there to protect them as well, and she really only needed Weiss and her father to be present.
But Yang was going to be staying in her room that night, and guards would line the halls specifically to prevent anyone from getting to her.
When she heard that tidbit of information, Ruby turned to her sister and her shoulders slumped. Yang quickly patted her head.
"It's fine, Ruby. It's better this way. I can help celebrate your birthday with you afterward, okay? They're just taking extra precautions to keep me safe. Plus, I'll have Blakey with me, so don't sweat it."
Ruby lifted her face and gave a small smile.
"Alright."
That evening, after supper, Yang and Blake retired to the former's room as always, but Weiss left Ruby early.
"I'm going to be helping with preparations these next few nights," she explained. "I'll make sure everything's perfect for your party."
"But, Weiss!" Ruby quickly grabbed her hand to prevent her from leaving the room. "You can do that during the day, can't you?"
"Don't be silly. I'm with you all day, and I can't have you seeing things before the night itself. It'll spoil the surprise."
"I don't need a fancy party, though. I just need you."
Weiss smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"I'm flattered. But I'm sure you understand that as your loyal knight and secret lover, I've got to make this event worthwhile for you."
"...But it's getting colder at night. I don't wanna sleep alone, and I don't want you to, either. You're not even gonna sleep at all, are you?"
"Of course I will," she reassured. "As for the cold... I'll have to request you bear with it for four more nights. But after we reveal our relationship at the banquet, perhaps your father will permit us to share your bed, as Blake does Yang's."
Ruby seemed to perk up at that notion.
"Yeah. Okay then. Just four more nights!"
"Four more nights." Weiss kissed her again, on the lips this time before pulling away. "Sleep well then, Ruby. I'll see you in the morning."
Ruby managed to return the kiss before Weiss pulled away and headed for the door. She waved at the image of her receding back until the door closed behind her.
Then, Ruby went to change, reminding herself it was one of the last nights she would have to sleep alone.
Once she had brought Ruby to her room, Weiss worked several hours a night for the next four evenings.
She was in charge of setting up the castle's extravagant ballroom that was only put into use for these occasions. With the help of several assistants, she had tables set up and decorations put into place.
By the time the fated night had arrived, the pale, tiled floors had been waxed and washed under her supervision, and colorful banners adorned the otherwise barren white walls.
There was a small platform, a stage of sorts at one end of the room, where the air allowed for a person's voice to carry quite easily across the length of the entire room, and she made certain that was spotless as well.
Ruby fretted about her knight every day, but each time Weiss reassured her with a kiss and sent her off to her room in the evening, never allowing her to sneak a peek at the ballroom.
Weiss had lost sleep, yes, but the place was immaculate, and she was intent on making this night perfect.
It was now the fated evening, and the tables were set up along the walls while the center floor was left spacious for dancing. Vases of white and red roses sat on every table, and dozens of bouquets hung up on the walls beside the lamps and candles as well.
The King had copious amounts of food shipped to his doorstep, which was always the case with the banquets. However, this time there was even more, as shop keepers and citizens who had enough to spare would offer a loaf of bread or an extra vegetable their gardens had produced.
The food would be distributed to other citizens in need without charge; the sense of compassion and unity these events brought his people were the main reasons the King continued to hold these parties.
But of course, the main focus this time was on his youngest daughter who would be officially entering adulthood. Considering her sweet tooth, various cakes and treats were being handed out and many were presently being brought out from the kitchens to be set up in the ballroom.
It was almost time, and Weiss was busying herself with last-minute preparations and check-ups.
The military's guards had just arrived, and the knight spared a moment to seek out her own commanders and companions.
Glynda was at the front of the castle gates amongst many other guards; Ozpin was back at the training grounds with the leftover members of the military, should their services be needed for any other emergencies that night.
The members of JNPR were overseeing the distribution of food to the eager citizens who lined up outside. Many came bearing gifts and happy wishes for the young princess, and the humble trinkets and flowers were being collected in baskets to hand over to Ruby at a later time.
The guards repeatedly voiced their dismay at being unable to allow people inside tonight, but the majority were docile and understanding about the reasons behind the King's cautions.
While she was here, Weiss slipped through the crowds and went to Pyrrha.
"How are things?"
"Ah, Weiss! It's grand to see you're doing well. I'm sure you did a lovely job with the banquet inside. Things are just fine here." She offered a smile before lowering her voice, her deep green eyes taking on a knowing look. "You should go to Ruby. It's almost time to bring her down, isn't it?"
Weiss gave a small nod.
"Right. Thank you for your assistance tonight, Pyrrha. And please thank the others for me as well."
"Of course!"
With a pat to the back, she saw Weiss off before turning back to the bustling crowds around her.
Weiss headed back inside, dipping her head as she passed the King himself who was about to venture outside to oversee things there before his daughter came down from her room.
Weiss scurried up the stairs, her armor feeling a bit heavier than usual as she made her way up. Ruby had been bathing until now, and Weiss knocked on her door when she reached it.
"Ruby? We'll be going down in a short while."
"Weiss? Come in! You can dry my hair for me!"
The knight sighed and rolled her eyes before opening the doors and stepping inside.
Blake had expected Yang to be downhearted for being unable to attend her own sister's birthday banquet.
But the blonde realized it was for the better to keep herself securely away from potential trouble the public could be harboring.
The halls outside were almost congested with guards, and Yang had requested Weiss bring Ruby to her once the event was over so Yang could congratulate her sister herself.
But until then, she nibbled on small snacks in her room where the windows were open and candlelight illuminated every inch in a gentle, yellow glow. The blonde stayed near her window, peering out down below to observe the crowds with a small smile.
Blake kept her ears perked and vision sharp as she stood at her side and scoured the masses below. Yang could sense her aide was anxious near the window, where arrows or rocks could potentially be shot toward them from displeased people, so the blonde only stayed there as long as she felt was necessary before closing the window and pulling the curtains over it. Blake visibly relaxed when they stepped away, shutting out the rest of the world.
"I bet Weiss is just going to get Ruby now," Yang guessed. "They're gonna have the time of their lives tonight, so why shouldn't we?"
She reached down and took Blake's hands in hers, pulling her to the open space beside the bed. Blake met her eyes as her princess leaned forward and hummed into her human ear:
"Dance with me, Blakey."
The sound of her nickname was what did her in so quickly, and Blake complied without protest. She slipped a hand into Yang's, bringing the other up to the girl's shoulder.
"I'm hardly dressed for such an occasion..." Blake muttered, casting a glance down to her simple robes and long skirt, her hair still tied in the usual low ponytail. "But I'd be honored to accept your offer, Princess."
Yang's lavender eyes sparkled when Blake called her that, and she pulled the Faunus girl in closer.
Neither led, neither followed; they simply moved in harmony, twirling one another, stepping slowly in rhythmic motions, pausing every few moments to steal a kiss or breathe a whisper of love.
Their dance was a quiet contrast to what was going on below in the ballroom, and they spared a moment to imagine Ruby and Weiss together there before they continued their secret dance around the room.
When she entered Ruby's room, Weiss felt her heart began to thump madly at the sight of her princess.
The dress she wore now was one not Weiss nor anyone else had ever seen her in before, and the white-haired girl felt a bit smug in knowing she was the first to bear witness to the sight of Vale's Princess looking like this.
The material was light, dyed crimson, overlapping layers lavishly folded upon one another to give a cascading effect. Her red cloak had been slipped on over it all, but it hardly looked odd to Weiss anymore, considering the girl always wore it over her attire if she intended to leave her bedroom.
Shoes to her ankles and gloves to her elbows matched in color, and all of her clothing was red, save from a single white rose that she had pinned to the left side of her collar. Her cheeks were florid and blushed pink, and her hair was damp and hanging down to her shoulders. She showed off her white teeth in a grin as she beckoned Weiss inside.
"Help me with my hair! I'll be ready to go after that!"
Weiss needed to remind herself of the process her body required in order to walk, and she breathed manually as she reached the girl who smelled of the very flower she held the name of. Weiss swallowed and remembered to inhale as she leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"You're so lovely, Ruby."
Her mist-blue eyes were alight with pride, joy, and the utmost adoration, and it made Ruby's stomach bubble with excitement.
Tonight, they would make their love known to the rest of the kingdom. They would not have to hide behind closed doors any longer.
Ruby lifted herself onto her tip-toes and pecked Weiss' lips timidly.
"Thanks, Weiss. You're really pretty, too."
Weiss chuckled as she retrieved a towel and brought it back to her charge.
"Oh, please. Spare your flattery. I'm still in this armor," she grumbled, padding through Ruby's hair.
"I know," the girl hummed. "But I also know for a fact that you're still really pretty! You always are no matter what!"
"Hush..."
"Awww, Weiss are you blushing?" She tried to turn around to see for herself, but Weiss kept her shoulders firmly facing forward.
"Of course not." With a final ruffle of the princess' hair, Weiss put the towel aside before reaching for a comb. Ruby wiggled happily under her gentle touch, waiting patiently until Weiss smoothed out the tangles. When she was finished, Weiss turned the girl around. "There."
"Thanks, Weiss!" Ruby wrapped her in a brief hug before pulling back. "Let's go, then! I can't wait another second!"
"Just one more moment." Weiss held up a hand to stop her from darting to the door, and Ruby tilted her head curiously.
Weiss reached into the pouch at her hip, beside her rapier, and drew out the head of a red rose. She brought it to her lips and pressed a kiss to the petals before tucking it into Ruby's hair.
"Happy birthday, Ruby."
She finished with a kiss to the girl's lips, and Ruby gladly accepted and returned it.
It was a moment before they parted, leaving both of them flushed.
"Thank you, Weiss," the princess said again. "I can't wait to finally... for everyone to know about us."
"I fear they already do," she muttered, remembering Yang's words. "But I feel the same way." She offered Ruby her arm, and the brunette slipped both hands onto her knight's elbow. "Let's go."
Weiss led her to the hallway, down the staircase and toward the ballroom. The guards they passed all dropped down to one knee in respect, and Ruby held her head proudly as she walked forward.
Her father waited for her at the entrance to the ballroom and Weiss let her go for a moment. The King murmured ancient words, placing his hands on his daughter's shoulders as he officially welcomed her into adulthood. When the brief ceremony was over, Ruby threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
From there, Weiss followed them into the ballroom, unable to keep the smile off her face as Ruby's jaw dropped instantly.
She marveled every aspect of Weiss' work in decorating the place, and while she also took a few moments to fawn over the food and treats, she was mainly baffled at everything else – everything Weiss had done.
Every word out of her mouth was "Oh, wow..." or "It's beautiful!", all things that made her knight turn her face away to hide her blush.
It took a lot of Ruby's self-control not to hug and kiss Weiss then and there.
But they had decided to wait until the end of the night to reveal their relationship.
Until then, the ballroom was more or less theirs.
Guards lined the walls, and after a certain period of time, this group would be relieved and switch with others. Those on guard inside would be permitted to go outside and get some fresh air and assist with handing out food to the people.
There were a dozen or so other people in the ballroom as well; a few musicians playing joyous tunes on violins, as well as Ruby's tutors and trainers, the people who schooled her about Remnant and Vale and who gave her lessons every week, all of whom were formally dressed.
Weiss followed at her side as Ruby went to each of them to thank them for all they had taught her, and that she hoped they could learn her many more things in the future.
Her teachers kept to the tables and the sides of the room, much like the guards and musicians, leaving the stage and dance area vacant.
Weiss stopped her charge in the center, were the lighting was best, the music most audible, the scent of flowers strongest. She bowed low and kissed the back of her gloved hand as she made the request:
"May I have this dance, Princess?"
A healthy blush rose to the girl's cheeks as she nodded coyly.
Weiss straightened her posture and smiled before taking Ruby's hands and kissing them both. She moved them slowly around the open space, stepping in time with the enchanting music as the notes floated through the air to meet their ears.
Amused murmurs and satisfied comments could be heard in the tones of the voices around them, coming from all sides as they danced. The princess in her formal attire and the knight in hers; together they were the picture of perfection and partnership.
Ruby was amazed Weiss could move so effortlessly even whilst wearing her armor, but then she reminded herself Weiss had lived most of her life weighed down by the stuff.
Of course, Ruby had seen the older girl dressed in sleepwear a handful of times, but as they danced now, she could not keep herself from wondering what Weiss might look like in a dress.
She must have been getting distracted by the thought because she stumbled a bit. Weiss easily supported her weight and smiled hopelessly.
"Let's take a break for a moment, shall we? Refresh yourself with some water. I've got something to do anyway. I'll be back in but a moment."
It was difficult for Ruby not to ask her where she planned on going, but she bit her tongue and kept the questions down.
"Okay. But first-!" Ruby reached up into her own hair and removed the red rose there, slipping it instead into Weiss' white locks. "There. Now we match!" With the proud declaration, she puffed out her chest where the white rose was pinned. Weiss chuckled and dipped her head.
"We do indeed."
Weiss kissed the back of her hand one last time before bowing to her and heading off. She shared a few words with some of the guards before she left the ballroom.
Ruby took the liberty to share a dance with her father in the meantime, giggling at the height difference between them as he pulled her along gently.
Only when the onyx curtains tied to the sides of the stage were suddenly pulled and let loose to join together did he come to a halt.
"It looks like the show is about to begin," he said.
"Show?" Ruby titled her head and stepped to one side, peering around him to get a better view of the stage. With his daughter's attention entirely focused there now, the King left her silently to converse with his men.
The murmurs and music that had previously filled the room died down suddenly as if on cue; Ruby realized she seemed to be the only one who did not know what was going on. She glanced around, starting to feel nervousness bubbling up in her stomach, wanting to ask what was happening or if there was something she should be doing.
But before she got the chance, the lights around the room were extinguished, and the sole beam shone like a swathe of moonlight upon the stage.
Instant silence fell as all eyes went to the stage, anxious and waiting for whatever was to come.
Soon, there were heavy footsteps to be heard, and the King himself appeared, holding himself tall and proud before addressing the room in a bellowing voice.
"I would personally like to thank all who have gathered here today for my youngest daughter's banquet. Tonight, she becomes a woman, and a fine one at that, one whom I hope you all deem as fit to one day rule the kingdom of Vale when I am gone. She has much to do, but I am confident she can accomplish all that is thrown her away, both through her own willpower and wit, and with the assistance of those closest to her. Now then, without further adue, allow me to make way for the main act."
Applause went up as he finished speaking and removed himself from the stage. It was a moment before the audience was quieted again, and Ruby's eyes were fixated on the black curtains.
The sounds reached her first, sounds of dainty, delicate footsteps, shoes clicking pleasantly in time with one another.
Next, a collective and awestruck gasp flew lightly from the audience's lungs; all except for Ruby herself who was left entirely breathless.
A small young woman took her place on stage. There was an air of cool about her, and it was a relief after the heat of the room had started to become stifling.
Her skin was pale like porcelain and seemed to fade into the pure white fabrics of her dress. Luscious hair like an icy waterfall cascaded all down her back and came to a wavy stop at her hips.
Like untouched snow, she was pure white in all places but three: the soft, peachy pink of the scar over her left eye, the dazzling, vibrant blue of her eyes, and the splash of red from the rose in her hair.
Ruby thought her heart had stopped as she gazed upon her, and a wheezing, disbelieving whisper left her lips.
"Weiss..."
Her knight smiled and lifted her gaze, her captivating eyes meeting Ruby's alone. There was something there that reminded the younger girl to breathe, and Ruby inhaled shakily, feeling the wobble in her legs as she was completely overwhelmed by Weiss' incomparable beauty.
Every soul in the room was smitten, but Weiss only had eyes for her princess.
Ruby traced her slim outline with her eyes, engraving this once-in-a-lifetime moment into her heart for safekeeping, adhering it to the back of her mind so she may call upon this memory again many years from now and still have it be as vivid as it was to her right now.
She felt water behind her eyes, stinging, and it was hard to keep it back. She hated to blink because every time she did, she missed a fraction of this moment.
Weiss smiled fondly at her all the while, her eyes conveying so much that needed not be spoken.
Then, a breath ghosted over her collar, and her pale lips parted.
The second she heard Weiss' voice, Ruby succumbed to her tears, letting them fall freely, though she never took her eyes off of her knight as she began to sing:
"Golden sunrise, yellow dawn, lover's smile and mother's song,
Azure crystal, amethyst skies, lips that never let slip lies.
Silver midnight, purple dusk, unyielding affection, undying trust.
Purest water that freely flows, crimson velvet of the rose.
Such things have beauty, but what can compare
To a princess like mine, with a heart so fair?"
Her voice carried out over the expanse of the room like a miracle, and by the time the final note had been uttered, Ruby's face was already wet with tears.
The air was charged with profound emotion, one intended solely for Ruby herself.
Her hands went to her mouth as she did her best to conceal her whimpers of joy past little mumbles of her knight's name.
She was hardly even aware of the applause that went up afterward, nor was she able to feel her own legs as they started to move her forward. She staggered quickly onto the stage, covering the last stretch of space before throwing herself into Weiss' arms for all to see.
"Weiss, Weiss, Weiss!" No other words seemed to be working, and she was rendered unable to say what she wanted to. It was clear as to what was being revealed, and those around them embraced it with open arms, just as Weiss embraced her princess in return.
"I hope you enjoyed it, Ruby. Happy birthday." She pressed a kiss to the weeping girl's temple, holding back the one meant for her lips, but only for the moment.
Ruby repeated Weiss' name as she blubbered into her shoulder, joyfully enough to bring water to every eye in the room.
It was such a perfect night, and Ruby was easily lost in it to the point where nothing else was on her mind, nothing else mattered.
Only Weiss.
That was why she never anticipated what was to come.
"Aww..." Emerald purred from her standpoint in the corner of the room. "Isn't that touching?"
"Everything's ready."
Cinder licked her lips from beside her, the glow beneath her dark robes a silent reminder of what she had planned. Emerald hated to sound like she was doubting the woman, but she was uncertain.
"Are you sure you can make it from here?"
This was their only plan of action, after all. No matter the outcome, once it was over with, their only option was to retreat or be discovered.
But the woman's lips curved up into a devilish smirk that sent a shiver up the girl's spine.
"Have you ever known me to miss my mark?"
Cinder then sent a nod to the boy beside her.
Mercury took his cue and started to shout loudly:
"Grimm!" he cried. "They're attacking the castle! We need troops!"
Under the guise of being a solider in the military, the surrounding guards took his word seriously. Shouts of alarm went up immediately, and the soldiers began to scatter into position to prepare for the alleged battle that awaited them.
And it was no lie, either. The White Fang had been working painstakingly for the past several days and nights to herd as many Grimm as possible in the nearby forest. After much antagonizing, they directed the raging beasts toward the castle under Cinder's command.
The timing was flawless.
Cinder watched as the King himself rushed out of the ballroom, shouts of the guards around the castle drowning out all else as bodies rushed to follow his orders.
Briefly, Cinder mused how simple it would have been for an assassin to take the mighty ruler out amidst the fray.
But the King was not her target tonight.
She was after much more deadly prey.
The cursed princess.
The eldest sister was nowhere to be seen, nor was her Faunus aide, making things simpler than ever as the King and his soldiers filed out of the castle to meet the awaiting mass of monsters.
They were basically handing Cinder her prize on a silver platter.
For the longest time, she had thought the one who bore the curse was the older half-princess, considering the way her eyes would light up blood-red and her hair catch flame as searing as any dragon's breath.
And it seemed the rest of the kingdom had fallen for the same pretenses.
But it was not Yang Xiao Long who bore the Curse, and Cinder was more than certain of this.
The Dragon's Curse did not give blood-red color to a person's gaze.
It stole the color from one's eyes, turning them colorless, grey-
-silver.
From beneath her robes, Cinder drew her bow and single arrow, the only one she had manage to charge with stolen Dust. She laughed to herself at the ease of it all as the final guard disappeared from the room, leaving only herself, her fellows and two others.
She took aim across the room, aligning the tip of the hungry spear of her arrow with the girl's heart, wondering how deeply red her dress would run when the blood was mixed into it.
A wicked whisper left her lips as she licked them.
"Farewell, dear princess."
She pulled back on the string until it was taut, waited until the Dust ignited the arrow ablaze-
-and fired.
The magic of the night vanished like a wisp of calm cloud in the swirl of a tornado.
Ruby watched in fear as her father and his men were alerted to the call of danger, the need to protect the citizens lined up and defenseless outside the castle taking precedence over all else. She stepped away from Weiss and looked around sharply.
"W-What's going on? Grimm? Now? But why? Th-There's usually months between the times they're active! Th-They shouldn't be- w-why tonight?" Panic flared within her as she turned back to her knight. "Weiss, what should we-"
"We need to get out of here," Weiss hissed. "Quickly-"
But her voice died instantly when the rush of air met her keen ears, screeching silently as though being sliced through by something sharp...
Weiss saw the small flickering flames just seconds before they shot toward Ruby.
There was a shrill scream, then a dizzying impact as Ruby hit the floor hard, crying out in agony from the concussive throbbing that assaulted her body.
She tried to blink open her eyes, but all she could see was red.
She had thought it was just her own dress.
Until she saw it seeping into white, dyeing crimson the body that lie motionless before her.
Her heart was seized violently by claws of icy terror as a horrified scream ripped from her lungs:
"WEISS!"
A/N: -
Chapter 10 preview: It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. There was a deafening crack, as though the earth itself had shattered. The castle shook, all of Vale and possibly all of Remnant shook, as though they were naught but marbles beneath the hooves of an endless stampede. The decorations dropped from the walls, some tables fell sideways, and everything felt like it was about to collapse.
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